for education purposes only

1. Biodiversity Indicators:
measuring progress on national and
international commitments
Dr. Tomás Murray
www.biodiversityireland.ie
Facebook/Twitter @BioDataCentre

2. 1. National Biodiversity Data Centre
2. Policy context and timeline
3. Data flow and process
4. National Biodiversity Indicators
5. Next steps
Talk Outline

3. National Biodiversity Data Centre
Established by the Heritage Council in 2007
and funded by the Heritage Council and the
Dept. Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Data Centre’s mission:
• provide national co-ordination and
biodiversity data standards
• assist mainstreaming of biodiversity data
and information into decision making,
planning, conservation management and
research
• encourage greater engagement by society
in documenting and appreciating
biodiversity

4. What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity = biological diversity = variety of life found
on earth across a range of biological levels
Genetic diversity
• variation within an individual, across individuals within a population
and across populations within a species
Species diversity (31,448 species)
• variation in the richness and abundance of species within a given
area or community of species, across areas or communities
Ecosystem diversity (117 terrestrial and freshwater habitats, 23 seabed habitats)
• Variation in the number of ecosystem types within a given area and
across areas

5. What is a biodiversity indicator?
Biodiversity indicator =
the current state, and change in state, of
verifiable data that relate to biodiversity
Types of biodiversity-relevant data = direct measures e.g. no. of endangered species
and habitats
indirect measures e.g. number of biodiversity-
relevant policies implemented

6. What is a biodiversity indicator?
Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying
causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming
biodiversity across government and society
Strategic Goal B: Reduce the
direct pressures on biodiversity
and promote sustainable use
Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of
biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems,
species and genetic diversity
Strategic Goal D: Enhance the
benefits to all from biodiversity
and ecosystem services
Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation
through participatory planning, knowledge
management and capacity building
https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/

7. Policy context and timeline
Oct 2010 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020
- Plan also contains a series of 20 targets, Aichi Biodiversity
Targets
- Countries then must update and align their own Strategic Plans
May 2011 EU Commission adopts “EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020”
- 6 main targets, 20 actions
Nov 2011 Ireland launches “Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016”
- 7 objectives, 18 targets, 103 actions

8. Policy context and timeline
Oct 2010 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020
- Plan also contains a series of 20 targets, Aichi Biodiversity
Targets
- Countries then must update and align their own Strategic Plans
May 2011 EU Commission adopts “EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020”
- 6 main targets, 20 actions
Nov 2011 Ireland launches “Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016”
- 7 objectives, 18 targets, 103 actions
Nov 2012 European Environmental Agency launches the Streamlining
European Biodiversity Indicators (SEBI)
- 26 EU-level indicators
Sep 2013 National Parks and Wildlife Service commissioned Tentera to
develop an indicator framework for Ireland
- 8 focal areas, 33 headline indicators, 85 subindicators

9. Policy context and timeline
2013 National Biodiversity Data Centre continues to develop framework
- Indicative list of 87 indicators released for consultation to Biodiversity Working
Group, feedback received
2014 National Biodiversity Data Centre development of website
- Continued collation, analysis and reporting of indicators
- 28 indicators prepared for consultation
2015 Biodiversity Working Group
- Adopted framework for assessing trends and agree consultation process
- Fixed until end of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2016, then revise
- 50 indicators completed and reviewed
National Biodiversity Data Centre/National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Consultation process on indicator content and interpretation concluded
- Launch of website in Q4 2015
2016 National Biodiversity Data Centre/National Parks and Wildlife Service
- 23 indicators updated; three indicators completed and reviewed
- 34 remaining indicators identified as undeliverable
2017 National Biodiversity Data Centre/National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Indicators revised and realigned for national and supranational reporting
- Internal review completed, reporting mechanism agreed, public report delivered

10. Data flow and process
Data flow
Content
development
and review

11. National Biodiversity Indicators
Interpretation of state and
trends
Positive
Intermediate
Negative
Unknown
Current = Most recent
reporting period
Short-term = 5 year trend
Long-term = 10 year

12. National Biodiversity Indicators
Interpretation of state and
trends
Positive
Intermediate
Negative
Unknown
Current = Most recent
reporting period
Short-term = 5 year trend
Long-term = 10 year

13. National Biodiversity Indicators
Interpretation of state and
trends
Positive
Intermediate
Negative
Unknown
Current = Most recent
reporting period
Short-term = 5 year trend
Long-term = 10 year

14. National Biodiversity Indicators

15. National Biodiversity Indicators

16. Next steps
• Revision and realignment of indicators to
national and supranational reporting
obligations
• Publication of an annual report on the
biodiversity indicators for the general public
• Establishment of a stakeholder working
group
• Integration of Marine Strategy Framework
Directive – Good Environmental Status
Indicators
• Development of remote sensed biodiversity
metrics (GEO BON)
Skidmore et al. (2015) Nature 523: 403-405

17. Thank you!
Any questions?
indicators.biodiversityireland.ie
tmurray@biodiversityireland.ie